Another month gone again. It was a little better weather for flying, and I managed to get in a few hours of flying, including a nice little flight with Stu Simpson.

We left Kirkby’s and headed towards Rockyford to meet up with John Munchrath. We were going to meet John in the air, but when we got to Rockyford, he wasn’t in the air yet. Neither Stu nor I were sure where John flew out of, so we decided to land at the Rockyford strip. This turned out to be the same strip that Garrett Komm, Dan Mitchell, and I flew into last year when Garrett was the target for a CASARA exercise. It’s a 2500′ turf (stubble) strip in the middle of a field, and our planes looked right at home sitting on the side of this strip.

Soon enough, John flew overhead, so Stu and I took off and joined him in the air, heading off to where else but Linden for lunch. It never ceases to amaze me at the welcome we always receive when we go to Linden. This is a town where they want to see us instead of finding ways to keep us out. After a bite, it was off to Bishell’s, where I was to stay, and Stu and John headed back home, but not until they killed some more time looking at the different planes at Bishell’s and talking to the boys who were busy on their own projects. All in all, another great day with some good flying, good grub, and some good stories too!

On April 22, there was an ultralight crash near Granum, Alberta, claiming the life of Donald Berreth. There were no witnesses to the crash. An investigator with the Transportation Safety Board said the right wing “failed,” sending the plane spiraling to the ground. There was corrosion found at the attach point joining the wing to the fuselage, according to Barry Holt of Transport. This was a small bit of the article written in the Lethbridge Herald on April 29th.

Although we do a thorough preflight check, it is important for us to take the time and do an extremely good inspection of our planes a couple of times each year. Although there are no regulations requiring ultralights to go through an annual inspection as there is with certified planes, it is still important to ensure our aircraft are still airworthy. Team up with someone else and do an inspection on each other’s plane. A fresh set of eyes may catch something you have missed. Don’t be embarrassed by things pointed out by someone else; someday it may save your life.

I would like to thank Bob Kooyman and Dave Procyshen for their efforts putting on the rust remover last month. It was well attended and enjoyed by all, with some good reminders about safety.

I hope you enjoyed last month’s speaker, Bryan Arnott, on corporate aviation. It was nice hearing a different view of flying from the corporate world. When it comes down to it, we all fly for the same reason… because we enjoy it!

You still have time to purchase your raffle tickets for the June draw, so pick yours up at the next meeting.

See you soon!